At first this story made my heartache. I was having sympathy for Mrs. Mallard. I couldn’t imagine the news of hearing my husband had been killed, regardless of how our relationship was. I haven’t had anyone close to me die so I’m not sure how the grieving process is but I have seen the pain and hurt people have felt when they have lost a dear one. This piece of work made me think about reality and how anything can happen. While reading, the protagonist stood out the most, Mrs. Mallard. Watching her behavior change over a short period of time made me wonder if she even loved her husband or was her marriage that horrible.
There are a few elements that can be used to describe this short story. I believe Chopin wanted us to focus on the protagonist. From the beginning of the story, Mrs. Mallard previously had heart problems before she was told about the death of her husband. I think Chopin wanted the readers not to be surprised at the end, when Mrs. Mallard died of a heart disease. The author describes a short grieving period until the moment Mrs. Mallard starts to say “free, free, free!” Again, the focus point from this statement on was the awkwardness of her behavior. It’s not normal for people to feel relieved when a spouse has been killed. It led me to asking questions to myself. How bad can a marriage be to have the emotions Mrs. Mallard had? Was it a marriage she was forced into? Then when she realizes her husband is alive she has a heart attack. It made me think; is it better to be dead then to live and be married to a man that causes pain and heartache?
